Called on Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman to explain my attitude in the matter of new polygamous marriages being entered into contrary to the wishes of the Church Authorities. Being accused by Bro[ther]. L[yman]. of encouraging such marriages and attempting myself to Assist in them I flatly but respectfully denied the charge. ...
Pres[ident]. Lyman maintained that it was a sin to enter into the relation since the Manifesto of President [Wilford] Woodruff. I told him I had done nothing except thru the council or ratification of members of his own quorum. He said I had no right to take counsel from members of the quorum, but that I should have gone to the President of the Church. I told him I supposed the Apostles would do nothing--at least a majority of the quorum would not--out of harmony with the desires of the First Presidency. I told him I heard one of the members of the 1st Presidency of the Church, (since dead) justify his son in entering the relation. He said ["]Yes Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon did bring reproach upon the church in letting Abra[ha]m H. Cannon get into it. He was responsible Abra[ha]m's act. Abra[ha]m didn't need the girl--he had a large family, and he destroyed his usefulness in the Church. Such men as he, Geo[rge]. Q. Apostles [Marriner Wood] Merrill, [George] Teasdell, [Matthias F.] Cowley, [Abraham Owen] Woodruff and [John W.] Taylor," he said, "had bro[ugh]t reproach upon the church, and had done wrong. The nation has been invited to humble us. Our religion when honestly lived, invites enough trouble, without willfully violating our pledges." He said, "Of course Pres[ident].
Smith don't want to go back beyond his administration, and I think he has all he can take care of in his own administration"--leading me to think he referred to Pres[ident]. Smith's complicity in the present marriage entanglement. I expressed my desire to be in harmony with the brethren as far as I could. ...
[Source: Joseph W. Musser, Diary, LDS Archives]
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